Latest news with #Gonorrhoea
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
England to launch 'world first' gonorrhoea vaccination programme
London: Health authorities in England on Wednesday announced the rollout of a world first vaccine programme for gonorrhoea, amid record levels of the sexually transmitted disease. Gonorrhoea cases in England in 2023 topped 85,000, the highest number since records began in 1918, with doctors warning of rising levels of antibiotic resistance. Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust , the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity, hailed the initiative as a "game changer". "This alone could cut 40 percent of new gonorrhoea cases," he said. State-funded National Health Service (NHS) chief Amanda Doyle said it would be the world's "first" routine vaccination programme for the disease. The NHS director of primary and community care described it as a "huge step forward for sexual health", adding that it would also help "reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistance strains of the bacteria". The programme deploys an existing jab normally used to protect children against the meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. Known as 4CMenB, it is part of the routine childhood vaccination programme given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. Under the new programme, the jabs will be offered to those considered most at risk -- gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. "This vaccination programme is a hugely welcome intervention at a time when we're seeing very concerning levels of gonorrhoea, including antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea," said NHS consultant epidemiologist Sema Mandal. "In 2023 we saw gonorrhoea diagnoses reach their highest since records began in 1918," added the deputy director of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). During appointments, patients will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B. For decades, Gonorrhoea, nicknamed "the clap", along with syphilis, have been regarded as Victorian-era diseases largely eradicated due to modern diagnosis and medicine. Like gonorrhoea, however, the number of syphilis cases has also seen a resurgence. In 2023, 9,513 cases were reported, a more than nine percent increase on the previous year and the highest number since 1948, according to UKHSA statistics.
See - Sada Elbalad
21-05-2025
- Health
- See - Sada Elbalad
England to Launch World's First Gonorrhea Vaccine
Rana Atef On Tuesday, The Guardian newspaper reported that England will roll out the first vaccine against Gonorrhoea in the world. This move aims to combat rising levels of sexually transmitted infections. The number of gonorrhea cases in England exceeded 85,000 in 2023, which is the highest number since 1918. The vaccine also came as a response to several warnings that some strains of the disease have become resistant to antibiotics. Dr. Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said the launch of the world's first routine vaccine against gonorrhea marks a major step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Eligible patients will be identified and contacted in the coming weeks, with the vaccine set to be offered from August 1. Vaccinations for the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A, and hepatitis B are also planned for patients. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout to start on the NHS to tackle rising levels of the STI – are you eligible?
Vaccination could tackle the rise of drug-resistant superbugs 'LANDMARK MOMENT' World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout to start on the NHS to tackle rising levels of the STI – are you eligible? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENGLAND will roll out the world's first gonorrhoea vaccine campaign this summer. The NHS said it will begin immunising against the sexually transmitted infection, also known as 'the clap', in August. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A vaccine will be offered to gay and bisexual men, who are most at risk (stock image) Credit: Getty - Contributor Health chiefs reckon they can prevent around 10,000 cases per year with an existing meningitis vaccine. Cases have tripled since 2012 and hit a record 85,000 in 2023. Local sexual health clinics will offer the jab to gay and bisexual men, who are most at risk. Patients will receive the 4CMenB vaccine for meningitis B, which has been found to nearly halve the chances of catching gonorrhoea in adults. The jab is already routinely given to babies to protect them from MenB, but its protection wears off as they grow up. Vaccination could also head off growing concerns about superbug versions of the infection, which are resistant to antibiotics. Dr Amanda Doyle, of NHS England, said: 'The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health. 'It will be crucial in helping to reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria.' Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection spread by unprotected sex. Many people do not have any symptoms but if it is left untreated it can spread and lead to infertility. What is Gonorrhoea It is the second most common STI in Britain by new cases per year, after chlamydia. The vaccine rollout was approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) after research by Imperial College London suggested it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS £8million over the next 10 years. Dr Sema Mandal, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'In 2023 we saw gonorrhoea diagnoses reach their highest since records began in 1918. 'Not only will this rollout protect those that need it most, but it will make the UK the first country in the world to offer this. 'STIs aren't just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of your sexual partners.' Public health minister Ashley Dalton added: 'Once again our NHS is leading the way.'
Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Hair loss on your head and two other body parts ‘could signal an STI' warns expert
Find out the full list of symptoms for the STI below BALD SPOT Hair loss on your head and two other body parts 'could signal an STI' warns expert Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RASHES, soreness and noticeable changes in discharge are usually the first symptoms we think of when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is however, one lesser-known symptom of a STI that can easily be dismissed as stress or ageing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Syphilis is a STI that if not treated, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems Credit: Getty 3 Patchy hair loss could be signalling an underlying syphilis infection Credit: Getty A pharmacist has warned hair loss - particularly patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows - could be down to an underlying syphilis infection. Syphilis is a STI that if not treated, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. Syphilitic Alopecia (SA) is a symptom which mimics other types of alopecia, says superintendent pharmacist Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist of Online Pharmacy Chemist Click. "Although it is quite rare, it can cause non-scarring hair loss in secondary syphilis," Abbas explains. "It tends to mimic other hair disorders, such as alopecia areata - which is mostly in small, round patches on the scalp, trichotillomania - a compulsive desire to pull out one's hair, and telogen effluvium - excessive shedding of resting or telogen hair after some metabolic stress, hormonal changes, or medication. "It can present three clinical patterns that affect not only the scalp region, but also other hair-covered areas; these patterns include moth-eaten, diffuse, and mixed alopecia." Moth-eaten alopecia looks like multiple, scattered, small patches of hair loss, resembling a moth's damage to fabric. Diffuse alopecia occurs all over the scalp in a uniform, thinning pattern, rather than in distinct patches. And mixed alopecia is having two or more different types of hair loss conditions simultaneously. Because prevalence of the symptom is low the precise mechanisms by which it develops and progresses still has to be ascertained. What is Gonorrhoea However, Abbas added: "The immune response to the bacterium Treponema pallidum, or its presence, could be related to the loss of terminal hairs, hair follicle cycle arrest, and hair bend resulting in empty follicles and broken hairs." There are four stages of syphilis - primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The 'moth-eaten' hair loss pattern is the most common type with SA and is considered to be a characteristic of secondary syphilis. Other symptoms of syphilis include: Small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) – these are usually painless and you may only have one of them Sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom White or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus A rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy White patches in your mouth Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness Swollen glands Knowing whether you have the STI can be challenging, particularly with syphilis, as it can take three weeks or more for symptoms to appear. Also, the symptoms of syphilis are often mild and hard to notice, tend to change over time and may come and go. "Symptoms can improve or go away completely, but if you have not been treated the infection is still in your body which means you can still pass it on and you're at risk of getting serious problems later on," warned Abbas. Syphilis is transmitted during oral, anal or vaginal sex through contact with infectious lesions, and also during pregnancy through the placenta. Latest available figures show that globally, eight million adults were diagnosed with syphilis in 2022. However the UK Health Security Agency (HSA) reports diagnoses of infectious syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent stages) at sexual health services in England decreased slightly in April to June 2024 to an estimated 2,300, down from 2,360 in the previous quarter. 3 Using condoms consistently and correctly when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to prevent syphilis and many other STIs Credit: Getty You should visit your GP or a sexual health clinic if you or a sexual partner have symptoms of syphilis, a sexual partner has told you they have syphilis or another STI or you've recently had sex with a new partner and did not use a condom. It's also important to book an appointment if you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant and think you might have syphilis or you've injected drugs using a needle that's been used by someone who might have syphilis. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics, which can come in the form of injections, tablets or capsules. Abbas explains the duration of the treatment is dependent on the stage of your syphilis. If it's not treated, syphilis can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems, some of which may not appear for many years. According to the NHS, these include heart problems like aortic aneurysms and heart failure, brain damage leading to stroke, dementia, and seizures, and nerve damage causing paralysis, blindness, and deafness. But syphilis is both a preventable and curable bacterial STI. Abbas said: "Using condoms consistently and correctly when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to prevent syphilis and many other STIs. "You should also use a condom to cover the penis or a latex or dam to cover the vagina if you have oral sex and make sure you complete treatment if you or your partner have syphilis. "Avoid sharing sex toys or wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them."
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Hair loss on your head and two other body parts ‘could signal an STI' warns expert
RASHES, soreness and noticeable changes in discharge are usually the first symptoms we think of when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is however, one lesser-known symptom of a STI that can easily be dismissed as 3 Syphilis is a STI that if not treated, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems Credit: Getty 3 Patchy hair loss could be signalling an underlying syphilis infection Credit: Getty A pharmacist has warned Syphilis is a STI that if not treated, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. Syphilitic Alopecia (SA) is a symptom which mimics other types of alopecia, says superintendent pharmacist Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist of "Although it is quite rare, it can cause non-scarring hair loss in secondary syphilis," Abbas explains. Read more on STIs "It tends to mimic other hair disorders, such as alopecia areata - which is mostly in small, round patches on the scalp, trichotillomania - a compulsive desire to pull out one's hair, and telogen effluvium - excessive shedding of resting or telogen hair after some metabolic stress, hormonal changes, or medication. "It can present three clinical patterns that affect not only the scalp region, but also other hair-covered areas; these patterns include moth-eaten, diffuse, and mixed Moth-eaten alopecia looks like multiple, scattered, small patches of hair loss, resembling a moth's damage to fabric. Diffuse alopecia occurs all over the scalp in a uniform, thinning pattern, rather than in distinct patches. Most read in Health And mixed alopecia is having two or more different types of hair loss conditions simultaneously. Because prevalence of the symptom is low the precise mechanisms by which it develops and progresses still has to be ascertained. What is Gonorrhoea However, Abbas added: "The immune response to the bacterium Treponema pallidum, or its presence, could be related to the loss of terminal hairs, hair follicle cycle arrest, and hair bend resulting in empty follicles and broken hairs." There are four stages of syphilis - primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The 'moth-eaten' hair loss pattern is the most common type with SA and is considered to be a characteristic of secondary syphilis. Other symptoms of syphilis include: Small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) – these are usually painless and you may only have one of them Sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom White or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus A rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy White patches in your mouth Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, Swollen glands Knowing whether you have the STI can be challenging, particularly with syphilis, as it can take three weeks or more for symptoms to appear. Also, the symptoms of syphilis are often mild and hard to notice, tend to change over time and may come and go. "Symptoms can improve or go away completely, but if you have not been treated the infection is still in your body which means you can still pass it on and you're at risk of getting serious problems later on," warned Abbas. Syphilis is transmitted during oral, anal or vaginal sex through contact with infectious lesions, and also during pregnancy through the placenta. Latest available figures show that globally, However the 3 Using condoms consistently and correctly when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to prevent syphilis and many other STIs Credit: Getty You should visit your GP or a sexual health clinic if you or a sexual partner have symptoms of syphilis, a sexual partner has told you they have syphilis or another STI or you've recently had sex with a new partner and did not use a condom. It's also important to book an appointment if you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant and think you might have syphilis or you've injected drugs using a needle that's been used by someone who might have syphilis. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics, which can come in the form of injections, tablets or capsules. Abbas explains the duration of the treatment is dependent on the stage of your syphilis. If it's not treated, syphilis can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems, some of which may not appear for many years. According to the NHS, these include heart problems like aortic aneurysms and heart failure, brain damage leading to stroke, dementia, and seizures, and nerve damage causing paralysis, blindness, and deafness. But syphilis is both a preventable and curable bacterial STI. Abbas said: "Using condoms consistently and correctly when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to prevent syphilis and many other STIs. "You should also use a condom to cover the penis or a latex or dam to cover the vagina if you have oral sex and make sure you complete treatment if you or your partner have syphilis. "Avoid sharing sex toys or wash and cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them." Where to get help for STIs In the UK, help with STIs is readily available through sexual health clinics, some GP surgeries, pharmacies, and young people's services. These services offer testing, treatment, and confidential advice for STIs, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Services are free and accessible to all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or sexuality, with some exceptions for certain prescriptions. The National Sexual Health Helpline is also available on 0300 123 7123, providing confidential advice and information about sexual health services.
